Stuck on Cloud 9

Belga needs to be
on target for Wednesday

The Rain or Shine Elastopainters' dream of making the PBA Governor's Cup Finals outright is now over, with Wednesday's game versus the rising BMeg Llamados to dictate which team advances to the big stage. The loser of that match will have to play again versus the winner of the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings- Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters playoffs in order to proceed to the next and final round.

So, with the Elastopainters needing to secure "only" two to three wins in the semifinals, what went wrong-- given their lofty standings at the end of eliminations and how easily they breezed through the competition game in and game out? It's pretty simple: everyone else improved, superstar rookie point guard Paul Lee hurt his shoulder and the Elastopainters peaked a little too early in this shortened conference.